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What are teeth made from?

What do you think your teeth might be made from? Because they need to be hard and tough so you can chew, teeth are made from some pretty strong substances!

On the very outside of your teeth is something called enamel. Enamel is the hardest material in the entire body! Below the enamel is a part of the tooth known as the dentin, which is mostly made up of hard minerals like calcium. (You might know calcium as the good-for-you ingredient that gives milk its white color.)

These two tough layers protect some more delicate parts further inside of your teeth: the pulp. A tooth’s “pulp” contains nerves and blood vessels. The blood vessels help bring important things to your teeth, like nutrients and oxygen. The nerves help alert you of any problems your teeth might be having, so you can take good care of them right away!

Further information

Remember that your teeth are very, very important which is why you should take good care of them! Always brush and floss your teeth and visit the dentist regularly!

Exploration

Know your teeth!Have you ever noticed that some of your teeth have different shapes than the others?? You might have heard your dentists refer to your different types of teeth, which include molars, canines, and incisors.

Why do you think humans need different types of teeth and can’t just have a whole mouthful of teeth that are shaped exactly the same??